"TONGA MAA TONGA."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1237, 20 September 1911, Page 4

"TONGA MAA TONGA."

OUIt GOVERNMENT ASKED TO STEP IN. Things have not been well in Tonga, for many months. So much tho people Lave been told, but (hero are probably very few of them who fully understand what is implied.by the statements made. They know perhaps that an investigation or a trial has l«en conducted by the High Commissioner for the Pacific, and that H.M.S. Torch has been lying in the harbour at' Nukualofa; they know possibly that the Government of tho Islands is involved in tho trouble, and this has naturally been matter for concern for I he British- Consul or British Resident in tho group, but they probably do not understand how it has all happened, or at least how it is staled to havo happened. Half the trade of Tonga is with New Zealand. It is now alleged that the British Protectorate over Tonga is irksome- to Borne, and yesterday Mr. Ambrose Millar, an Auckland merchant, with interests in Tonga, waited upon the Prime Minister to voice this view of things. _ It may be explained that Tonga ia governed first of all by a King, a Native potentate of Cft. 4in., or thereabouts. He is assisted by a Cabinet consisting of the Premier, the Minister of Police and Minister •of Lands (thoso three are Natives) and the Auditor-General (until three weeks ago Mr. F. V. Roberts). AH the Cabinet meetings are attended by the British Consul, and .his word carries eonsiderablo weight. ' The story of how it comes about that there is trouble in Tonga at present is a fairly long one. There have, of course, been troubles in Tonga off and on for over a quarter of a century. The current allegation is that tho present trouble dales from tho dissolution in August, 1910, of the Kautaha, a Native co-operative association formed in May of the preceding year. It is alleged that this dissolution and liquidation was carried out in rather suminnrv fashion by tho Tongan Governmunt. Whether the advice of the British. Consul-played any part in this is a so a matter of mere allegation, but Mr. Millar is no.w asking Uio New Zea and Government to lake some action which mnv prevent tho recurrence of anything of the kind in luturc. What it really all means is about as tortuous as longan affairs have been for a whole {pcrabon and more. "Tonga maa 'longa - lonpa for the Tongans"-is a current saying in tho group, and in this saying, taken in conjunction with conflicting trade and political interests, many of the troubles aro to be traced.